Masterclass: ‘Making peace in an era of resurgent imperialism’

Following a week of lectures, round-table discussions and artistic workshops dedicated to the challenges of peace, the Global Actors for Peace Masterclass, organised by the C3RD, concluded on Friday with a closing lecture by Florian Louis, a historian of international relations and agrégé professor at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) and the ENS Institute for Advanced Geopolitical Studies.

Entitled ‘Making peace in an era of resurgent imperialism’, the lecture explored the complex relationship between imperialism and peace. Drawing on a historical perspective, Florian Louis reiterated a fundamental principle: ‘Peace is neither innate nor a given; it must be built and actively pursued.’

The historian highlighted, in particular, the paradox of empires, which are capable of establishing a degree of stability while relying on relations of domination and coercion. While imperialism can fuel conflicts, particularly when it comes into competition with other powers, it can also give rise to lasting forms of pacification. These nevertheless remain deeply unequal, as they are founded on power imbalances and constraints imposed on populations.

Reflecting on contemporary imperial dynamics, Florian Louis highlighted the risks posed to international stability by the resurgence of expansionist ambitions. Rivalries between powers and territorial conquest can thus become drivers of war. His analysis nevertheless encouraged the audience to look beyond an exclusively conflict-based interpretation of imperialism in order to gain a better understanding of the different forms of peace it can generate.

This reflection raised a fundamental question: can peace truly be said to exist when it is founded on coercion? By distinguishing between the absence of war and a just and lasting peace, Florian Louis highlighted the limitations of stability based on domination, while emphasising the importance of history in understanding contemporary tensions and anticipating future challenges.

The morning continued with a drinks reception and the opening of an exhibition, bringing to a close a week of meetings, dialogue and interdisciplinary reflection. Through this latest edition, the Global Actors for Peace Masterclass reaffirmed the importance of bringing together different perspectives and disciplines to examine the conditions necessary for building a lasting peace.